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It's easy to feel claustrophobic in the sweltering summer heat, but don't pack up the kids for a weekend getaway just yet! A seven-mile stretch of Park Avenue will be completely vehicle-free on three consecutive Saturdays in August during NYC's annual Summer Streets event. On August 1, 8 and 15, the thoroughfare from Brooklyn Bridge up to Central Park will be lined with tons of free summer activities to keep families cool and entertained. Grab the kids and walk, bike or scoot over to five different rest stops from 7am–1pm. Here are the best kid-friendly festivities on offer at each stop:
Foley Square rest stop (Duane St and Centre St)
This year's main attraction is a massive 270-foot blow-up waterslide provided by Vita Coco Beach. Kids ages 5 and up who can't get enough of splash parks can register ahead of time to 'Slide the City' on provided tubes—there's a whole lane just for kids and parents. Registration is full for Aug 1, but there are two more days available this month! Little adrenaline junkies can also brave a 165-foot zip line (on Leonard St between Lafayette and Centre Sts) or learn footwork tricks from the pro soccer players from NYC Football Club. For a more relaxing cool-off, chill out under palm trees, head to the misting station and grab photos with Ben Franklin and Flora, visiting from the Mount Vernon House Museum.
Soho rest stop (Spring St and Lafayette St)
Active older kids might want to join Mom and Dad in complimentary fitness classes like yog

School supplies can cost a bundle, but families who are in need (or simply have back to school street smarts) can find free gear around New York at the following events.
Remember, now's always a great time to give back! If you are not in need of school supplies or are able to volunteer, sponsor or donate, be sure to explore each website for involvement opportunities.
Habana OutpostHabana Outpost is known for its super kid-friendly atmosphere, and the Annual Back to School Bash (Sept 7 11am-3pm) doesn't disappoint. There are fun (free) crafts and activities for kids, there's delicious food available for purchase and kids (first-come, first-served) generally receive a tote with items like pencils, a comp book, stickers and a ruler. This year, there's also a concurrent art show featuring work from three local kiddos!
Verizon The Cellular Connection: Free Backpack and School SuppliesVerizon is hosting a School Rocks Backpack Giveaway this year courtesy of The Cellular Connection (Aug 1 noon-3pm) at select locations around NYC. Click the link to search the NYC area for locations (they'll pop up below the map), and then call ahead before the event to verify their participation. Supplies are available on a first-come, first-served basis—each child may receive one backpack, and children must be present (parents may not collect on their child's behalf).
ICNA Relief Back to School GiveawayFor kids in need, Islamic Circle of North America comes to the rescue! Its Back-2-School Give

If your mouth started watering the second you began browsing this summer's NYC Restaurant Week options, your next instinct might be to book a babysitter for an adult's night out—but there's no need! Though fancy dinners make great date ideas for parents, many of the participating eateries also offer kid-friendly fare in addition to the prix-fixe menu options. If your young gourmands are ready to expand their palates beyond New York pizza, make a reservation for the whole gang at one of these spots—a few of which even made our list of the 50 best family restaurants in NYC.
Blue SmokeAt Blue Smoke, parents get to sink their teeth into some serious Southern cuisine ($25 for the prix fixe lunch, $38 for dinner) while your kids feel very grown-up with their tasty main course, side dish, dessert and drink ($11). We think the baby back ribs would go particularly well with grilled zucchini, root beer and a scoop of vanilla ice cream afterwards!
Blue Water GrillParents, satisfy your seafood craving this Restaurant Week at Blue Water Grill. For the mature palate, order a round of market mussels or West Coast oysters to start, and pan-seared tile fish for an entree ($38 for the prix-fixe dinner). Your kids may say “yuck” to shellfish, but they’ll love a mocktail ($3) to go alongside their pint-sized plate of free-range chicken fingers or grilled scottish salmon ($9). And don’t forget the dessert menu—order the kiddos a brownie-bite sundae and, for yourself, the market blueberry shortc

There’s nothing quite like seeing a kid’s eyes light up during their first-ever Broadway show, but imagine their excitement if they could see how the production comes together! Walks of New York, known for it’s tours exploring notable neighborhoods and family attractions in NYC, has created a brand-new excursion that delves into some of the most popular plays for kids in NYC. Disney on Broadway Behind the Magic walking tours, opening to the public on July 18, give families special access to the world of the Great White Way thanks to a partnership with Disney Theatrical Group.
Running Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10am–12:30pm, the tours will start with a bit of history about New York Theater from the 1920s to the present, including details about important theaters in the district, the daily life of a performer and after-show cast hangouts nearby. Expert guides with firsthand experience on the NYC theater scene will lead the group to hotspots including Sardi’s, a restaurant that’s held opening-night parties for shows since 1927, Shubert Theatre, where Barbra Streisand made her debut in Funny Girl, and Schubert Alley, where performers often gathered to help each other navigate the business.
Perhaps most exciting is the visit to Disney’s historic New Amsterdam Theatre, where several Broadway shows for kids have hit the stage. Kids will get to check out an exclusive prop and costume studio, which holds original stage pieces like the beloved nanny’s coat from Mary Poppins,

If the kids are bummed that all the sparkle and excitement of the 4th of July is over, they’re in for a treat! Tons more family-friendly Independence Day festivities are coming up this weekend—this time, in celebration of France’s independence! From the annual Bastille Day bash at 60th Street to a massive celebration at Brookfield Place, there’s no shortage of free summer activities surrounding this joyful holiday. Enjoy live performances, sample French delicacies and check out free cooking classes and foreign language classes for kids. Here's what you can't miss:
Bastille Day at 60th St
In addition to stunning can-can dancing and a live musical performance from children's group The Arpege Choir, this celebration offers tons of kidcentric activities! While Mom and Dad enjoy champagne and chocolate tastings, little ones can:
-Visit the Kids' Corner (between Madison and Park Aves) for face painting, arts and crafts and games led by FIAF teachers in French
-Enjoy storytime and sales on favorite French children's book at the Pop-Up Library (both noon–5pm).
-Get hands-on in the kitchen and make a seasonal French treat in free cooking workshops (1–2pm and 3–4pm, ages 2–4)
-Learn some basic French in free French workshops with sessions aimed at beginners (1pm, 2pm and 3pm). Sign up at the FIAF Language Center Booth (between Park and Madison Aves) for first-come, first-served workshops.
-Watch French films, including animated short films (12:30–2:30pm, ages 7 and up) and an

In celebration of history and art (not to mention the Smithsonian’s free admission policy), over 800 museums around the country open their doors to the public free of charge on Saturday, September 26. Though not all of the local participants scream “kid-friendly” (looking at you, Museum of American Finance), families can score entry to awesome NYC museums like the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, the Skyscraper Museum and the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden.
Beginning in August, you can download a Museum Day Live! ticket on the Smithsonian’s website. Two tickets will be permitted per household, per email address. If you can't make it on the 27th, don't fret! Several NYC institutions offer free museum days regularly so families can save a little cash. Make sure to check out all the other free things to do with kids in the city to plan a whole day of frugal fun.
Here's the list of this year's participating museums in the NYC area:
Children's Museum of Manhattan
Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum
Long Island Children's Museum
Historic Richmond Town
The Skyscraper Museum
Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden
Morris-Jumel Mansion
Museum of American Finance
Van Cortlandt House Museum
Fraunces Tavern Museum
Kingsland Homestead at Queens Historical Society
Museum of American Illustration and the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art at the Society of Illustrators
Storm King Art Center

Ready for the most epic sleepover ever? This summer, families are invited to unroll their sleeping bags at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum for three Operation Slumber overnight programs. Forget the basic popcorn-and-movie night—this slumber party is held at one of NYC's iconic family attractions and includes a tour of the Space Shuttle Pavilion, an evening stroll on the flight deck by flashlight and a virtual flight simulation.
Families are fed dinner, snacks and a Continental breakfast aboard the massive ship so everyone is fueld up for fun activities like a visit to the pop-up planetarium and crafts where guests make their own planets and space aliens. When it's time to hit the hay, they'll crash on cots set up between the helicopters and jet planes on the Hangar Deck. Grab a goody bag on your way out with a T-shirt and a pass inside, so you can come back and explore one of our favorite NYC museums for kids during daylight hours. Space is limited, so call 646-381-5010 or email groupsales@intrepidmuseum.org to reserve your spot.
Operation Slumber programs will be held on July 25, July 31 and August 8 from 6pm–8am. $120 per person. Ages 6 to 17.

As a part of its Summer Playstreets Program, the Police Athletic League will close off certain city roads to traffic, giving kids plenty of safe space for outdoor activities. Since 1914, the program has blocked off public areas each summer to maximize playtime for NYC kids.
From July 6 through August 21, 8am to 5pm, kids in all five boroughs will have the opportunity to jump in sports, sidewalk games and other free summer activities, including Double Dutch, basketball and hopscotch in designated areas. They'll also take in art and culture thanks to community education, recreation and cultural arts stations. With 40 locations, there's bound to be a streetful of fun to ensure your kids have the best summer ever. Check out the full list of playstreet locations below and visit palnyc.org or call 212-477-9450 for more information.
MANHATTAN PLAYSTREETS
109th Street Between Park & Madison Aves129th Street Between Lenox & 7th Aves151st Street Between Amsterdam and Broadway Aves159th Street Between Amsterdam and Broadway AvesAcademy Street Between Broadway and Vermilyea AvesJennie Clarke Residence 183-A E 100th St between Third and Lexington AvesWagner Houses 2396 First AveGrant Houses Rear 1315 Amsterdam Ave, basketball court near daycare center
BRONX PLAYSTREETS
Parque de Los Ninos Morrison and Watson AvesWakefield Park E 240th St between Matilda and Carpenter Aves182nd St Between Valentine and Ryer Aves196th Sts Between Briggs and Bainbridg